HARNESS TRACKS OF AMERICA Executive Newsletter

HARNESS TRACKS OF AMERICAExecutive NewsletterA daily fax and e-mail report on racing and gaming developments in North America and beyondStanley F. Bergstein, EditorThursday, August 5, 2010LIGHT IN NEW JERSEY TUNNEL?The Newark Star-Ledger, the state’s largestnewspaper, reported this morning thatthe state’s top Democrat, Senate PresidentSteve Sweeney, said he was committedto keep horse racing at the Meadowlandsand Monmouth Park. The story, bythe paper’s Statehouse Bureau reporterMatt Friedman, said Sweeney had accusedthe governor of “abandoning” thestate’s horse racing industry. Sweeneywas quoted as saying, “We have to finda way to keep the tracks open. The governorbasically said if they die, they die.I think that’s too flippant a statement.”The Sweeney pronouncement, while encouraging,does not mean he will supportslots at the tracks or the Atlantic City casinosubsidies. He made that clear, saying,“I think it’s extremely important thatwe find a way to make sure there are nolosers in this.” Sweeney’s co-chairman ofthe summit, State Senator Jim Whelan, aformer longtime mayor of Atlantic City,was less conciliatory. He dismissed thepossible end of horse racing in the stateas “what happens in a capitalist society,”but added, “I don’t want to be hostile tothe racing industry.” The all-Democratgaming summit in Atlantic City tomorrowdrew criticism from Republicans, includingthe governor, who was not pleasedwith Sweeney’s criticism. Meanwhile, itturns out Christie’s special commissionchair Jon Hanson kept no minutesof six months of discussions.GOV DEFIANT ON MASS. SLOTSGovernor Deval Patrick of Massachusettsdropped what may be the final hammer onslots at the state’s tracks, including HTAmember Plainridge Racecourse, when hesaid in a radio interview that “I’m nevergoing to agree to a no-bid contract,” hischaracterization of the overwhelming voteby his legislature in favor of two track racinos.House Speaker Robert DeLeo, whorefused to yield on the issue, told the BostonHerald the governor’s “rigid” stanceon the entire casino bill was likely a fatalblow to the idea.AROUND THE TRACKS.....HTA member Indiana Downs will resumeracing tonight after cancelling twonights for track repairs....PhiladelphiaPark, meanwhile, is closing down liveracing until Aug. 29 for state-of-the-artground penetrating radar reworking toeven out irregularities and unevennessof its track....Reductions in takeout rateshave produced wholesome gains at bothTioga Downs in New York and BalmoralPark in Illinois. Balmoral’s 15% takeouton its Pick 4, has increased from a precut$7,698 a night figure at the start of theseason to $16,357 a card in July, an 84%increase over numbers bet on the pools inJuly of 2009, before the 40% reductionin takeout....A significant track recordfor 2-year-olds at HTA member BataviaDowns, where the Art Major colt FlipperJ won in 1:54.4 over Batavia’s halfmiletrack.